Round 3 review part 1

Round 3 Review
Round 3 kicked off with a nail biter in Sydney, most believed the Swans would finally open there account with a win. Saturday was a huge day for footy fans with 6 undefeated teams going head to head including the 20th anniversary of the showdown. Sunday would bring out an old rivalry in Bombers and Blues and a chance for 4 teams to finally get a win to open the season.
Friday night

Not quite a classic but plenty of highlights just none for 250 gamer Buddy. wind the clock back 7 years to the Collingwood premiership a skilled team by foot that grinder teams into the ground under immense tackling pressure, now drop that team into Friday night and that is what we saw. 115 tackles by Collingwood puts them in the top 15 of all time, Alex Fasolo 3 first half goals set the pies up early. The Pies raced to a 21 point lead in the first quarter and that was the difference the Swans kept rallying but Collingwood had all the answers. You kept waiting for Buddy to blow the game apart in his 250th and at times looked like just take the game by the scruff of the neck and win it himself. Kennedy tried his best to lift the Swans but it wasn’t enough, Collingwood had to many winners across the ground. Swans take heart their kids are developing very fast while they missing some players through injury, and Collingwood finally after being in winnable positions in the first two games get the win.

For almost a half of footy you thought maybe if the Kangas keep going they where a real chance to get the win today the Giants had missed a few shots the Roos where hanging tough and then GWS just put the foot to the floor in the last quarter and put them away. The score board does not show how close this game was, the Kangas where within 3 -4 goals all day. Ziebell was gallant all day and just needs a bit more help around the stoppages. Josh Kelly, Ward and Shiel where almost unstoppable today and again it was Cameron and Greene up forward that give the Giants the edge up front. It wasn’t a hugely dominant performance by the Giants they did enough to get the win and are building nicely in a couple weeks from now when they get firing on cylinders they will be a site to see.

Best 3 votes Kelly 2 votes Ward 1 vote Ziebell
Tigers looking tasty

Dustin Martin Brownlow medalist anyone? Another 3 votes today with 40 touches and 3 goals, in almost a roll reversal of last week the accurate Eagles where shocking in front of goal with 17 behinds, the difference between winning and losing this game.

The Eagles will lose no supporters in the loss and head home to take on a wounded Swans team. The tigers lead by Martin ground out the win and made the most of the opportunities they had, Rance was brilliant in defence keeping Kennedy to only 2 goals. LeCras was good with his 3 goals but had 4 behinds the story of the Eagles day. Martin had ample support with Cotchin, Riewoldt and Houli. Tigers will be aiming for a 4-0 start to the season heading to the Gabba next week to take on the Lions.

Demons missed Hogan and Lewis a lot they missed a game winner and accuracy in front of goal having 6 more scoring shots but posting 19 behinds and going down by 29 points as the super accurate Cats kicked away late in the game.

The Demons have a great spread of talent and they all contribute, the loss of Gawn with a hammy was telling as the Cats got on top around the stoppages. Dangerfield was again sensational booting 3 goals himself Hawkins in a purple patch kicked 5 straight and Menzel again in the goals kicking 4 himself. The Cats where brilliant in front of goal kicking 20 goals and only 6 behinds sitting pretty at 3-0 and a huge game this week against a winless Hawks, they Cats are still not firing on all cylinders but when the do they will be near unstoppable.

Crows are the real deal make no mistake they will be well and truly in the action late September and may even be in the big dance. The crows again started slow but by end of the first quarter had started to control the game. The Power showed some of the brilliance that had them sitting on top after 2 rounds but it wasn’t enough.

Walker and Betts where at their best and had 7 between them and Lynch was a big factor in the game with Sloane back to his best. Wines did best for the Power but didn’t get a huge amount of support, Wingard and Ryder where disappointing and Gray was good but didn’t have much influence.

Finally the Dockers looked like a side that could play footy again and had a hard fought win over the highly fancied Dogs. The Dockers jumped out of the gates before the dogs could catch their breathe they where 4 goals down. As expected the Dogs did battle hard and hit the front late in the third quarter and looked like they would run away with it. The Dockers would not lay down and dominated the final quarter keeping the Dogs a single behind for the quarter. Mundy was huge with 30 touches and 2 goals and Neale and Fyfe looked in great touch. Hunter was Dogs best and JJ, Libba, Dahlhaus all played well but it wasn’t enough.